AMD processors aim to challenge Intel's lead

AMD recently launched a new range of Phenom II processors aimed at snatching back market share from arch-rival Intel.Unlike Core i7, explained AMD's head of sales Craig Connell, Phenom processors will not need to populate all three memory slots at the same time. AMD's architecture can do the job with two, he said.

AMD has added a product aimed squarely at the gaming and high-performance PC users. The Phenom II X3 720 has a Black Edition processor, designed for ‘pure overclocking', which should prove attractive to those who configure high end workstations for specific processor intensive applications such as design, computational fluid dynamics or modelling.

While AMD admitted Intel's Core i7 technology has capitalised on the increased data rate of DDR3, it claimed to have taken developments one stage further.AMD insiders predict that the move to DDR3 memory will add five per cent to AMD's performance figures across the board.